Metagame Nature Swap

anaconja

long day at job
is a Community Contributoris a Tiering Contributor
Heres a topic of conversation for people to maybe focus around if interested: what are some standout defensive threats this gen? Whether it be tanks or walls, what new or improved mons can put in work in gen 7?

Heres an answer from me:


Mantine @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 68 SpD
Lax Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Defog
- Scald
- Toxic / Haze / Other

Mantine is incredible in Nature Swap gen7. A defogger that can handle Rain teams almost entirely by itself, as well as being a great blanket wall to physical attackers. Water STAB threatens common SR setters and its huge bulk can allow for it to tank even a STAB rock type move such as Head Smash from Aggron and threaten with Scald. Whats more, it can possibly run a scary swift swim set, although it should be pretty obvious from the team preview which type of Mantine is being used. Mantine basically just ticks a lot of boxes and is a premier bulky water and defogging option imo.

Honorable mentions: Lax Tentacruel and Bold Salamence are both still great this gen, Tentacruel gets a big boost by the removal of a 10% debuff to its special defense and also loves having a new z-move option of healing.
- Impish Latios is surprisingly good - 80/130/110 bulk is nothing to joke about, and Latios can either run a support set with Healing Wish and Defog, or a more offensive stallbreaker with Dragon Dance. When it mega-evolves, it gets an even bulkier 80/160/120 bulk.
- Careful Slowbro-Mega is incredibly bulky, gaining 50 points in Special Defense aided by burns from Scald and Shell Armor preventing crits.
- Bold Dragonite turns from set-up sweeper into a physical tank, with 91/134/100 bulk boosted by Multiscale. Additionally, it has access to support moves such as Haze, Heal Bell, Tailwind, and Thunder Wave.
- Bold or Impish Goodra patches up its subpar Defense stat and allows it to run Hydration memes in Rain. Sap Sipper and Gooey also have their niches.
- Relaxed Espeon is similar to Sableye-Mega, trading a better typing for higher power and speed, and the abilty to run an item.
 

drampa's grandpa

cannonball
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- Bold Dragonite turns from set-up sweeper into a physical tank, with 91/134/100 bulk boosted by Multiscale. Additionally, it has access to support moves such as Haze, Heal Bell, Tailwind, and Thunder Wave.
Unfortunately Haze and Heal Bell aren't compatible. Haze is an egg move and Heal Bell is an event move. And Heal Bell isn't compatible with Multiscale.
 
Bisharp @ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Brick Break
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Psycho Cut

Switching its 100 Defense stat with its 70 Speed, Bisharp dont need sucker punch anymore. More coverage!
 
Unfortunately with mons running around with 130 speed+ commonly, base 100 is incredibly slow for this meta. It would outspeed (most) walls but still has no chance of outrunning much offensively. Also Anaconja, Latios doesnt learn Healing Wish unfortunately
 
Unfortunately with mons running around with 130 speed+ commonly, base 100 is incredibly slow for this meta. It would outspeed (most) walls but still has no chance of outrunning much offensively. Also Anaconja, Latios doesnt learn Healing Wish unfortunately
Oh. So, in this case...

Alakazam-Mega @ Alakazite
Ability: Trace
EVs: 124 Atk / 132 SpA / 252 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Psychic
- Knock Off
- Ice Punch
- Dazzling Gleam

Switching its Sp.Def with its Attack. Mixed Sweep. lol.
 
Incineroar @ Firium Z/Incinium Z/Assualt Vest
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Speed / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
-Darkest Lariat
-Flare Blitz
-Fake Out
-U-Turn

The tiger we deserved. I still love normal Incineroar, but still. The Z-Crystals are for wallbreaking and Assault Vest is for defense. Speed boost really helps it finish off it's "prey" easily.

Edit: fixed, got roasted
 
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Incineroar @ Firium Z/Incinium Z/Assualt Vest
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Speed / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
-Darkest Lariat
-Flare Blitz
-Fake Out
-U-Turn

The tiger we deserved. I still love normal Incineroar, but still. The Z-Crystals are for wallbreaking and Assault Vest is for defense. Speed boost really helps it finish off it's "prey" easily.
i still really really doubt that's at all viable
even though I like incineroar :/
 

Dunfan

formerly Dunsparce Fanboy
Incineroar @ Firium Z/Incinium Z/Assualt Vest
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Speed / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
-Darkest Lariat
-Flare Blitz
-Fake Out
-U-Turn

The tiger we deserved. I still love normal Incineroar, but still. The Z-Crystals are for wallbreaking and Assault Vest is for defense. Speed boost really helps it finish off it's "prey" easily.
Would be nice... if Intimidate was released for Incineroar. Sadly, it's not.

Also sorry for that one-liner, i can't find any relevant set to post here.
 
Octilery looks lit. It likes speed, and oh my god that coverage.

Octillery @ Life Orb
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Seed Bomb
- Gunk Shot
- Waterfall
- Return

Fisical Octilery have meh coverage. Could be better.

Octillery @ Life Orb
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flash Cannon
- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
- Scald

Special has great coverage, realy.
Now... my favorite set.

Octillery @ Wide Lens
Ability: Sniper
IVs: 0 Atk
- Blizzard
- Fire Blast
- Hydro Pump
- Sludge Wave

Wide Lens Octilery. Using its strongest (and inacurrated) moves, you can deal A LOT of damage with a super-effective.
 
Octilery looks lit. It likes speed, and oh my god that coverage.

Octillery @ Life Orb
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Seed Bomb
- Gunk Shot
- Waterfall
- Return

Fisical Octilery have meh coverage. Could be better.

Octillery @ Life Orb
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flash Cannon
- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
- Scald

Special has great coverage, realy.
Now... my favorite set.

Octillery @ Wide Lens
Ability: Sniper
IVs: 0 Atk
- Blizzard
- Fire Blast
- Hydro Pump
- Sludge Wave

Wide Lens Octilery. Using its strongest (and inacurrated) moves, you can deal A LOT of damage with a super-effective.
Swap Flash Cannon for Energy Ball. You're going to need to not be walled by Water Types.
 
Base
Octilery looks lit. It likes speed, and oh my god that coverage.

Octillery @ Life Orb
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Seed Bomb
- Gunk Shot
- Waterfall
- Return

Fisical Octilery have meh coverage. Could be better.

Octillery @ Life Orb
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flash Cannon
- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
- Scald

Special has great coverage, realy.
Now... my favorite set.

Octillery @ Wide Lens
Ability: Sniper
IVs: 0 Atk
- Blizzard
- Fire Blast
- Hydro Pump
- Sludge Wave

Wide Lens Octilery. Using its strongest (and inacurrated) moves, you can deal A LOT of damage with a super-effective.
105 ain't that fast
 
While it's probably not viable (and has way worse coverage than i ever realized), with a brave nature, Ninjask becomes a speed boost mon with 160 base attack. 90 base speed isn't exactly ideal in this meta, but i was thinking speed boost could patch that up. I also considered a special ninjask set because of better coverage, but 50 base speed isn't acceptable.

Ninjask @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Brave Nature
- Protect
- Swords Dance
- Leech Life
- Night Slash

Also, I'm not sure if anyone was mentioned Gardevoir yet, but she looks pretty scary and very versatile. She can be a speedy special attacker with (decent but almost average) 135 base speed, or she can be a physical wallbreaker with 165 base attack-boosted pixilate double edge

Gardevoir-Mega @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hyper Voice
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Focus Blast

Gardevoir-Mega @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Double-Edge
- Zen Headbutt
- Fire Punch
- Shadow Sneak
 
While it's probably not viable (and has way worse coverage than i ever realized), with a brave nature, Ninjask becomes a speed boost mon with 160 base attack. 90 base speed isn't exactly ideal in this meta, but i was thinking speed boost could patch that up. I also considered a special ninjask set because of better coverage, but 50 base speed isn't acceptable.

Ninjask @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Brave Nature
- Protect
- Swords Dance
- Leech Life
- Night Slash

Also, I'm not sure if anyone was mentioned Gardevoir yet, but she looks pretty scary and very versatile. She can be a speedy special attacker with (decent but almost average) 135 base speed, or she can be a physical wallbreaker with 165 base attack-boosted pixilate double edge

Gardevoir-Mega @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hyper Voice
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Focus Blast

Gardevoir-Mega @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Double-Edge
- Zen Headbutt
- Fire Punch
- Shadow Sneak
I would replace Swords Dance with U-Turn on that set. If something that walls it apears, you can leave the field dealing some damage. And I agree that Gardevoir-Mega looks scary, but Double-Edge can be a problem, you get too much recoil damage.
 
I would replace Swords Dance with U-Turn on that set. If something that walls it apears, you can leave the field dealing some damage. And I agree that Gardevoir-Mega looks scary, but Double-Edge can be a problem, you get too much recoil damage.
I agree about ninjask looking at it again. He's too frail for legitimate set up anyway. But gardevoir I'm iffy on. You can obviously run return or facade, but I also like the sheer power of double edge
 
Ninjask's problem isn't its stat spread, it's its bad offensive typing and lack of high BP moves as a whole. 160 Attack is a lot scarier when your best move is stronger than 80 BP.

I'm hesitant on physical Gardevoir, especially relying on neutral-natured base 100. Tapu Lele will be super common, so you don't even get the benefit of Shadow Sneak. It might be a dangerous wallbreaker, but it's competing with many much faster Pokemon that can easily KO it.
 
Adamant Gardevoir IS viable. This is the set that made me almost 6-0 every Stall team I've faced, though it was in Blissey era where Stall is more common. Here's the set that I used, original idea by pip.

Gardevoir-Mega @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Return
- Taunt
- Fire Punch
- Pain Split / Substitute

Zen Headbutt is not worth it. Don't use it.
 
True, the stallbreaker gardevoir is a strong set. But this gen I would definitely consider using Zen Headbutt to beat Toxapex (im assuming will be common on stall and fat balance?) which otherwise walls you. plus maybe specs lele + adamant gardevoir cores could break their checks on the opposite sides and psychic terrain boosted zen headbutt might help with that. shame that gardy is gunna be a lot more deadweight vs non-stall this gen than last though, since things seem to be a lot faster- although the 135 speed set seems more viable this gen as it does outspeed a lot of common things and its defenses are slightly patched.

lemme add a couple mons that i think are really amazing this gen:


Latias (F) @ Soul Dew
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Healing Wish
- Psychic
- Defog

This mon will put in work every single game- two hard-hitting STABs backed by soul dew and a 130 speed tier makes it great offensively, and similarly its speed tier helps its utility options. Having such a fast healing wish is strong in this meta, and there are a lot of ways to abuse it for instance sturdy mons that double as late-game sweepers. And Latias has defensive synergy with these mons as well, with a water, fighting and grass resistance and a ground immunity- while they often can handle fairy and steel types. A mon like Golem can destroy its own checks with counter+sturdy, then come back later in the game to sweep.


Mamoswine @ Icium Z
Ability: Snow Cloak
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Freeze-Dry
- Earth Power
- Blizzard
- Hail

I think this might be unreliable in practice thanks to base 80 speed, but this mon is basically the best STAB coverage possible and also now has a way of patching its miserable speed on the special side. Pair this with webs and nothing is switching in safely. It also can use Z-Blizzard to ohko mons that Freeze-Dry isnt able to. As a kinda redundant bonus, z-hail plus snow cloak might cheese some wins. the main issue it has is requiring webs + z-hail to sweep, since modest base 80 outspeeds only positive nature base 114 (ugh) at +1, and even then it wont outspeed things like scarf lele at +2. It might be better with SR/ancientpower/hp fire in the last slot and focusing entirely on wallbreaking.
 
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Escavalier @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Drill Run
- Iron Head
- Knock Off
- Megahorn

This truly looks fun. I know 105 isnt going to outspeed everything, but consider its a bulky pokémon. Switched the defense with speed so it keeps it Sp.Def, so if Tapu Lele comes...
yup.
 
Not sure how relevant steel types are in this meta, but all-hail the hard counter:
Golem-Alola @ Choice Band
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Volt Switch
- Stealth Rock / Wild Charge

80 / 120 / 45 / 55 / 65 / 130
Outspeeds, traps and kills basically every steel type ever.
 
Not sure how relevant steel types are in this meta, but all-hail the hard counter:
Golem-Alola @ Choice Band
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Volt Switch
- Stealth Rock / Wild Charge

80 / 120 / 45 / 55 / 65 / 130
Outspeeds, traps and kills basically every steel type ever.
Forgetting ferrothorn and scarfed excadrill buddy, also scizor. Its still an admittebly nice set for dealing with steel types I will admit
 
Its not fast for the role of steel trapper, a big percentage of steel types in Nature Swap are hitting or outspeeding base 130. Like looking at some of the main steel types in NS, the speeds are base 180 (aggron), base 230 (megalix), base 130 (metagross), base 140 (fast scizor) so itll just get ohkod by these mons. You could probably scarf it with better results since if youre trying to outspeed fast Steels you dont need extra dmg. EQ + Stone Edge pretty much blows up every single fast steel you'd wanna remove. (needs a little prior dmg for Mega Scizor and Ferro/Kartana is not great depending the set, but most other things)

Another pretty cool set for a Magnet Pull Golem is sash Counter. Outside of Scizor, it traps and kills every steel type with counter (itll kill scizors that make the mistake of BP also), and can be a fast physical or slow special set.
 
Im NOT gonna let this meta just die slowly due to inactivity so im gonna change that

As time is nearing omtom time maybe we can get this win omotm! (Unlikely but maybe at least it could win lcotm)

To start some discussion and garner attention here are new potential sets straight out of usum warning: most of them are stakatakas

Stakataka @ Rockium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA
Lonely Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Gyro Ball
- Stone Edge
- Superpower
Whats scarier than a mon that outspeed everything under trick room and has 131 attack? A mon with 211 attack and outspeeds everything under tr of course. self explanatory set its staka, but like 3x scarier


Linoone @ Figy Berry
Ability: Gluttony
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Brave Nature
- Belly Drum
- Extreme Speed
- Stomping Tantrum
- Seed Bomb
If theres no unaware mon then gg, this thing gets a huge buff in usum by getting stomping tantrum as coverage, its standard linoone but hits much harder


Blacephalon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Trick
i hate this mon so much because of how uninteresting and dumb looking it is but w/e ill still mention it seeing how hard it hits for its speed tier which is really good, i can see this mon being top tier in this meta


Stakataka @ Choice Band
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Iron Head
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Superpower
Another staka set, except this time instead of outspeeding everyone inside of tr, it outspeed everything OUTSIDE of tr, neat huh? I can see this mon being a top tier due to its many unpredictable sets (i wish it could run special mixed with mild nature too but staka has ZERO special movepool outside flash cannon)


Stakataka @ Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Stealth Rock
- Skill Swap/Gravity
Great sucide lead with huge defenses and great 131 speed, has enough bulk to survive most even se attacks and sets up rocks and screens, can also run gravity to support a fellow steelix or w/e rek chaos


Necrozma @ Psychium Z
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Photon Geyser
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
Necrozma got a great buff in its moveset in usum with new additions such as photon geyser/eq/knock off/heat wave and such. This set takes advantage of its decent speed tier and hits hard with +2 geysers


Araquanid @ Focus Sash
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Sticky Web
- Magic Coat
- Liquidation
- Toxic
Speaking of suicide leads, araquanif becomes an amazing lead now with access to sticky webs and magic coat and 132 speed outspeeding a great majority of the tier already. Having strong offensive presence too is just icing on the cake


What sets are YOU excited for in nature swap? Thanks for reading and uh bye
 

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